Collier says Bentley used law enforcement as 'political tool'

Former Alabama Secretary of Law Enforcement Spencer Collier at a May 2014 press conference.

(Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

Former state Law Enforcement Secretary Spencer Collier said today a special grand jury's findings that cleared him of wrongdoing also showed that the investigation initiated by Gov. Robert Bentley and ALEA Secretary Stan Stabler, his successor, was a personal attack.

Collier issued a response to the grand jury's findings through his lawyer, Kenny Mendelsohn:

"It is now abundantly clear that the governor and Secretary Stabler used substantial state law enforcement resources as a political tool. The ALEA investigation was based on conjecture, rumors, and false information."

Bentley fired Collier in March, citing a finding of "possible misuse of state funds" by an internal ALEA investigation.

On Thursday, Attorney General Luther Strange issued a press release saying that a special grand jury heard from witnesses, including "senior ALEA leadership," and that none gave credible evidence of criminal misuse of state funds by Collier or any other criminal violation by Collier.

Strange said the investigation was closed.

Strange also said no witnesses provided a credible basis for why the investigation was ever started.

"This further shows that the investigation was not a bona fide investigation but rather a personal attack on Spencer to deflect attention away from the Governor's own behavior," the statement from Mendelsohn said.

Today, at a public appearance in Tuscaloosa, Bentley was asked if he has been truthful with his public comments about why he fired Collier and about the investigation.

"Absolutely," Bentley said.

Bentley said when he named Stabler acting ALEA secretary in February, people "spontaneously" came forward with information that led to the internal ALEA investigation.

At that time, Bentley had placed Collier on medical leave. Collier was preparing to undergo back surgery. Bentley also said at the time that he was displeased that Collier had given the attorney general's office an affidavit in the Mike Hubbard case against his orders.